Ten years???

The past few weeks have been spent in more than a few different ways. James and I had our 10 year high school reunion the same weekend. Thankfully they were on different days. As I was driving I thought the sky looked so pretty I took a picture.

I got a picture with two of my high school friends, Becky and Kristin. We were pretty tight. I actually saw them a couple of times last summer because Becky took our amazing wedding pictures and Kristin came to some of the festivities.Me and James

Kristin and Jim

I've also been working on the wardrobe crew at the Lyric Theatre. I was hungry so I went over to Great Harvest and saw this funny sign. It's true.

I've also been working on "stuff" for the shows including this bodice, over skirt and skirt costume for Amadeus. It's not done in the picture and I didn't take a picture of it after I finished. Cartridge pleating kind of hurts your fingers.

I also made two coats for the Emperor in Amadeus. I didn't get a shot of the finished product, it's missing the cuffs which really finish the whole thing off. I also made a gold coat with a different pattern but similar idea.During "Little Shop" I have a costume assist where I help Audrey put on her sweater. This is what I see while I wait. Kind of scary.
My friend/boss/mentor/big sister/shop manager, Amanda, is moving to Wisconsin in less than a month. She and her husband blessed their baby this weekend. Kamee and I played costume shop mice and finished Amanda's dress for her. She was really stressed out and we thought, "Hey! We can follow a pattern!" So we left it on her porch. We are all going to miss this great family, a lot.

I might be crazy

HAPPY EASTER! I loved this message that my sister shared on her blog. It is a wonderful reminder of why we celebrate and the reason for our lives. I am so grateful for our Saviour and His sacrifice for us all. I know that He lives!

I recently finished my renderings for Frost/Nixon for design studies. It's a play about the 1977 interviews between David Frost and former President Richard Nixon. I wanted to delve deeper into the characters so it wasn't just a design of men in suits. I'm really happy with how they turned out and as soon as I get them scanned, I'll post them on my Behance portfolio.

It was also a good experience with patterns, as seen in the rendering of Caroline Cushing.However, my sanity could be called into question with my decision to render a PLAID SUIT. It's crazy but it's a totally appropriate choice for that time period. If you have any question of that, please refer back to this picture from a previous post. It's my Dad's yearbook picture from that time period. Not only is it appropriate for the time, it was also fitting for the character. While I was working on the rendering I decided to take step by step pictures.

Picture #1 shading and horizontal lines:

Picture #2 vertical lines and some of the secondary lines

Picture #3, the completed rendering. I cheated here and skipped a few steps including the layers in the shirt, face, hands, shoes and hair. Plus, I totally repainted all of the main plaid lines because they weren't right. It was kind of frustrating. Despite that, I'm happy with the end result.Exhibit B for my case of crazy: I'm making my friend's wedding dress. We designed it and I'm making it. I drafted a paper pattern and then made a muslin mock-up. After the fitting I altered the pattern and used that to cut out the pieces in silk dupioni. Now I get to finish cutting out the flat lining of the leftover muslin and serge all the pieces together.I used my cool Ginghers to cut out the silk pieces. They really are the Cadillac of scissors, as my grandma has said. I hope to have it finished by this week so my cute friend doesn't have to worry about it during finals week!

Isn't the silk beautiful? Even with a crappy cell phone picture you can still see the luster of the fabric. (Side note, I stumbled upon the work of a wonderful LDS designer. Her work is mind blowing!)

With all the craziness, I do have someone who helps me stay sane, James. He is so wonderful. He played his guitar and sang for me while I painted on Saturday. Plus, he did the laundry while I was at the shop working on the dress and striking "Three Musketeers." It was so funny, he wouldn't tell me what he did while I was gone. It was only when I saw some of the wet clothes drying in our bedroom that he admitted what he had done. He's so cute like that. Did I mention he also does the dishes? I'm so lucky!

And last up, renderings of Nixon. I was trying the get the shadows dark enough so I took pictures with my cell phone. I think it worked.

One more week until finals! AHHHHH! We can do it! I know we can!

My husband IS a rock star

I'm quite possibly the luckiest woman in the world because I married this guy:

James is in a word, FANTASTIC. And in another, WONDERFUL.

Seriously. There is no amount of exaggeration going on here. I figure as it is Thanksgiving next week I'll list the reasons why he is such an amazing spouse.

#1- He has a sense of humor and is able to maintain it during stressful times.

#2- He is understanding. Case in point, "costume shop time." Usually when I'm working in the shop and I say, "I'll be done in fifteen minutes" it usually means twenty or twenty-five. I usually try to not hold to costume shop time if we have somewhere to go but even then

he's so patient!

#3- James doesn't think my taste in music is weird.

#4- He takes charge of things when I'm stressed out or busy with school stuff.

#5- Connected to #4, he can cook AND clean! Here is some proof. Sorry about the color levels, I was trying to be sneaky and take the picture from the dark hall.

#6- James may be laid back but he is also ambitious and responsible, a crazy-great combination.

#7- He sings really well. (Funny story: when we were in California last month an elderly couple asked him if he was professional singer after sacrament meeting. I still tease him about it.)

#8- He has a wonderful family. I was pretty sure I liked him a lot before I met his parents but I knew for sure after meeting them. His sisters are all amazing too.

#9- James keeps me focused. I've been a little distracted lately and kind of baby hungry but he sweetly reminds me that we are BOTH in grad school and graduation is less than two

years away. It's not too long to wait.

#10-James noticed me. Sure it took him a year to ask me out, but he was only guy in our singles ward to do it. I am so lucky!

Dinner with cool people!

On Monday night James and I drove down to Salt Lake for dinner with a wonderful couple he met on his mission. Atilla and Yvonne Erarslans took care of James while he was working with their daughter-in-law and son. I had heard so much about them and I was very excited to finally meet them! We ate at PF Changs and although the pictures only show six people, times that by itself and you'll get the real amount. It was funny that James only knew a few of the people. The rest were connected to the Erarslans through Switzerland, Turkey and Facebook (seriously!) It was wonderful to finally meet James' "Swiss Mommy" (Yvonne's words, not James'!)

Melanie, Brent and Atilla.

Melanie, Brent, Yvonne, James, me and Atilla.

Oh, and, my sister is PREGNANT! We were sworn to secrecy back in August. Hilary and Josh told us via Avery's "Big Sister" shirt. It was very cute even though not everyone got it at first. I'm excited to be an aunt again!

Photos of Ouray

The view of Box Canyon from the back door of our room.

Next up are views of the town, Box Canyon Falls park, Cascade Falls, Ouray, Museum (can you guess which picture it is?) Views from the 55, Ouray Main Street and pictures from our jeep tour.

We had a great time!

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